Doris Bitler Davis

Associate Professor

Animal behavior and cognition, especially communication, social hierarchy, and the effects of domestication; the teaching of psychology

Dr. Davis has a background in Experimental Psychology, with a specialization in animal learning and memory. She is affiliated with the Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Program in the Psychology Department.

In 2003, the George Mason Alumni Society chose Dr. Davis as their Distinguished Professor of the Year. The Mason Staff Senate selected her for its first Supervisor of the Year Award in 2002. She was twice named Mid-Atlantic Region Advisor of the Year by Golden Key National Honour Society.

Current Research

Components of food signals in chickens

Developmental cognition in chickens

Recognition of human emotional cues in dogs

Social hierarchy effects on learning in chickens and goats

Pedagogy of psychology

Selected Publications

Artz, B. and Davis, D. B. (2017). Green Care: A review of the benefits and potential of animal-assisted care farming. Animals, 7, 31. doi:10.3390/ani7040031

Davis, D. B. (2017). Exam question sequencing effects and context cues. Teaching of Psychology, 44(3), 263-267.

Davis, D. B. (December 12, 2016). In praise of the humble quiz: A compendium of research findings. College Teaching, 7, 1-3. doi 10.1080/87567555.2016.1232695

Davis, D. B. (2016). Familiarity versus understanding: A formative assessment. College Teaching, 64(4), 228-229.

McElroy, P., & Davis, D. B. (2016). Using quizzes to improve exam scores. Innovations in Teaching & Learning Conference Proceedings, 8.

Davis, D. B. (2015). In their own best interest: Data-based decisions in the classroom. Innovations in Teaching & Learning Conference Proceedings, 7(1), 90.

Expanded Publication List

Recent Presentations:

Artz, B., & Davis, D. B. (2017). Human-canine interactions: The impact of breed, training, and socialization on canine response to emotional cues of their owners and strangers. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

McLernon, A., Woodhouse, L., & Davis, D. B. (2017). Transitivity of individual food preferences in chickens (Gallus gallus). Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

Woodhouse, L., & Davis, D. B. (2017). Landmark use improves object location in chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

Frongello, A., & Davis, D. B. (2016). Prelinguistic behavior in domestic dogs. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, NY.

McElroy, P.J., & Davis, D. B. (2016). A new test of the testing effect: The effect of quiz format. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, NY.

Yung, J., & Davis, D. B. (2016). The effects of contextual priming on the perception of ambiguous auditory stimuli. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, NY.

Borrelli, C. & Davis, D. (2015). The paranormal beliefs of the nonreligious. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Davis, D. (2015). The effects of quiz format on exam grades. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Winsor, A., & Davis, D. (2015). Word learning and fast mapping abilities in goats (capra hircus). Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Courses Taught

Psyc304 Principles of Learning

Psyc405 Mystery, Madness, and Murder (synthesis)

Psyc406 Psychology of Communication

Psyc461/592 Animal Behavior

Education

B.A. Dickinson College 1982
M.A. Hollins University 1984
Ph.D. American University 1991

Recent Presentations

Borrelli, C., & Davis, D. (2015). The paranormal beliefs of the non-religious. Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Davis, D. (2015). The effects of quiz format on exam grades in an undergraduate course. Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Winsor, A., & Davis, D. (2015). Discovering word learning and fast-mapping abilities in domestic goats (Capra hircus). Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Davis, D. (2013). The effect of multiple-choice exam question order on student performance in an introductory psychology class. Atlantic Coast Teaching Conference, Sandy Hook, NJ.

Davis, D., & Battaglia, M. (2012). A comparison of debate versus discussion in large, undergraduate psychology classes. Innovations in Teaching & Learning Conference, Fairfax, VA.